Rep. John Carmichael, D-Wichita, said Kinch had taken the party from the verge of financial insolvency to a well-funded status in 15 months. Kinch was elected chairman after the resignation of Larry Meeker, who had argued the party needed to brand itself as more conservative than some Democrats nationally.

“He also had the wisdom to recognize a new day is coming in Kansas, that progressive Democrats, a younger generation than both Mr. Kinch and myself, are the future of the party,” Carmichael said. “And he was wise to use good discretion and allow the party to move in a younger and perhaps more progressive manner.”

Read the full story at http://www.hutchnews.com/4cb0f886-79d8-592e-9969-ef5353b42c6d.html

Party chairman Lee Kinch announced Monday he wouldn’t seek re-election to the post, paving the way for Saturday’s leadership election. In a letter to Democrats, he cited concerns expressed by young Democrats about the “aging leaders and the need for a new face for our party.” He said he took those concerns seriously.

Rep. John Carmichael, D-Wichita, said Kinch had taken the party from the verge of financial insolvency to a well-funded status in 15 months. Kinch was elected chairman after the resignation of Larry Meeker, who had argued the party needed to brand itself as more conservative than some Democrats nationally.

“He also had the wisdom to recognize a new day is coming in Kansas, that progressive Democrats, a younger generation than both Mr. Kinch and myself, are the future of the party,” Carmichael said. “And he was wise to use good discretion and allow the party to move in a younger and perhaps more progressive manner.”

Read the full story at http://cjonline.com/news/state-government/2017-02-24/amid-sanders-visit-kansas-democrats-seek-next-generation

“What does all of this mean? What it means is the long hoped for coalition between Democrats and reasonable, moderate Republican members has coalesced early, and it’s proven effective,” said Rep. John Carmichael, D-Wichita.

Read the full story at http://cjonline.com/news/state-government/2017-02-23/democrats-and-moderate-gop-herald-new-day-kansas-house

When the bill reached the floor of the House on Feb. 9, however, Rep. John Carmichael, D-Wichita, said he realized there was another section of the bill that would have permanently sealed off records of complaints or investigations of officers who are accused of misconduct.

The bill was then referred back to the Judiciary Committee for further changes.

The final version of the bill treats those investigation records in the same way the Open Records Act treats other criminal investigation records, which means they can be disclosed at the discretion of the agency once an investigation is completed, or by a court order if a judge determines disclosure of the records would be in the public interest.

Read the full story at http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2017/feb/21/bill-limiting-access-police-disciplinary-records-m/

Brownback didn’t have a workable plan to address budget and tax problems, Rep. John Carmichael, D-Wichita, said. The governor’s budget proposal would have increased cigarette and liquor taxes and using the investment fund.

The governor’s proposal would have also largely left in place tax exemptions for limited liability companies, a policy that has fallen out of favor in the new Legislature.

“He had an opportunity to do allotments,” Carmichael said. “We have developed a plan to bring the books much closer to balance.”

Read the full story at http://cjonline.com/news/state-government/2017-02-18/lawmakers-hold-their-breath-will-brownback-veto-tax-bill

State Rep. John Carmichael (D) – Wichita, a local business owner, is happy with the approval.

He said, “what was done here will go a long way towards balancing the books but at the same time the people who are going to be paying for that are the folks who had this tax holiday.”

Carmichael says he will gladly accept paying taxes. Under the proposal income between $30,000 to $60,000 would be taxed at 5.25%, up from 4.6% it sits at now. Income from $60,000 to $100,00 taxed at 5.25% However, income up to 30k would remain at the current rate of 2.7%.

Read the full story at http://www.kake.com/story/34540580/wichitans-react-to-business-tax-exemption-personal-income-tax-increase

Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeffrey T. Easter spoke for the Kansas Sheriffs’ Association. He expressed concerns that the language of the bill could be basically legalizing marijuana.

Rep. John Carmichael, D-Wichita, asked Easter what steps could be taken for law enforcement and the farm industry to come together and “at the same time save these people’s farms.”

Read the full story at http://www.hutchnews.com/a5b2a45f-a141-516d-8220-03b959ba2bb7.html

The House tax bill garnered votes from Republicans and Democrats, including Democrat John Carmichael, who says they need to take steps to get the state’s finances on solid ground.

“In the House of Representatives there is a strong bipartisan coalition and commitment to try to fix this problem, and I’m willing to put my name on the line and vote yes even though it does represent an increase in taxes,” says Carmichael

Read the full story at http://kansaspublicradio.org/kpr-news/kansas-house-approves-tax-increase-sends-bill-senate

The House tax bill had support from lawmakers in both parties, including Democrat Rep. John Carmichael of Wichita, who said legislators need to get the state’s finances on solid ground.

“In the House of Representatives, there is a strong bipartisan coalition and commitment to try to fix this problem,” Carmichael said. “I’m willing to put my name on the line and vote yes even though it does represent an increase in taxes.”

Read the full story at http://kcur.org/post/kansas-house-approves-tax-increase-sends-bill-senate

“My compliments to people on both sides of the aisle for having the courage to take a hard vote today,” said Representative John Carmichael.

The tally on the vote was one person shy of being veto-proof. If it passes the final vote with the same majority, it will be headed across the hall to the senate.

Read the full story at http://www.kwch.com/content/news/Tax-bill-passes-in-the-house-413881223.html